Studies suggest more than 1 billion people worldwide may be affected with low levels of vitamin D from existing chronic disease, use of sunscreen and from inadequate exposure to the sun.

People are spending less time outside and, when they do go out, they're typically wearing sunscreen, which essentially nullifies the body's ability to produce vitamin D," said Kim Pfotenhauer, DO, assistant professor at Touro University and a researcher on this study in a media release.

Pfotenhauer shares there are healthy ways to get the benefits of sunshine without boosting skin cancer risk

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Normal Vitamin D and tips for boosting your level

Walking with just your arms and legs exposed

Consume foods drink fortified with vitamin D

Consider vitamin D supplements

Know your numbers: Vitamin D level less than 20ng/ml indicates a deficiency and can be checked with a simple blood test

21 to 30ng/ml is considered Vitamin D insufficiency

Get outside for 5 to 30 minutes, twice a week without any sunscreen

More research is needed to find out if Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency plays a role in disease such as MS, infection, cancer and fracture risk.

"Science has been trying to find a one-to-one correspondence between vitamin D levels and specific diseases," said Dr. Pfotenhauer. "Given vitamin D's ubiquitous role in the body, I believe sufficient vitamin D is more about overall health."

Screening for Vitamin D levels is not currently recommended, but for those with symptoms such as muscle weakness, known Vitamin D deficiency or bone fractures should be tested and treatment options should be explored.

It's important to know the study does not mean sunscreen is definitely causing chronic illness. The finding was a review of clinical information that suggests a possibility that too much sun protection could leave us vulnerable to Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, which in turn could contribute to chronic disease.

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